OpenStoryTellers
ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31ST MARCH 2025
OPENSTORYfELLERS LIMITED
(A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)
COMPANY NUMBER 06829975
CHARITY NUMBER 1130148

Open StoryTellers
Our Objectlves
The Trustees have referred to the guidance contained in the
Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit
when reviewing our aims and objectives and in planning our
future activities. The structure and content of this report is
designed to reflect the requirement to explain how the charity
has operated within that guidance.
The objects of the charlty are
To advance the educatlon for the publlc beneflt and preserve
and protect the health of persons who have learnlng and
communication disabililies. thelr familles and carers by
providing opportunities to develop storfes and storytelllng.
To advance the education of the public in the knowledge of
the art, practlce and value of oral storytelling and in
knowledge of the form and content of the oral tradltlon of
people and cultures.

Message from the Chalr
°IROUl¥N '.li-
FRONT DOOR
OPEN STORYTELLERS
Friday. 31st Junuury •w---
It is a pleasure to write my first message to you as the new Chair of the Trustees.
And I must start by paying tribute to Sarah Talbot-williams, who stepped down
in January of this year- for much of this reporting period she was at the helm!
Sarah's departure after 4 years amazing service rounded off a year of change
with our board of trustees. We bade a deeply fond farewell to Jane Flood who
has long been an important fellow storyteller carrying the torch for this artform
amongst other board members for many years. Claire Edgar and Jackie Lucas
also stepped down as their careers took impressive uptums with Jackie making
a welcome retum to the workplace and Claire taking up a senior position at
Surrey council- our loss is their gain. l am delighted to introduce Emma Mee
who we welcomed in January and will be supporting the leadership team with
her extensive experience of project management and delivery for the National
Trusl. We are indebted to existing trustees: Ben Banks for stepping into the
treasurer role and Elanor Steele for taking on a safeguarding lead. Trustees are
the unsung heroes of all charities and we are grateful for their time and
expertise so freely given.
You will see from the image I've chosen for this message that our National
Lottery Heritage Fund funded project. Through the Front Door. has been a key
focus this year. Fellow Fromies will recognise the iconic Memorial Theatre yellow
posters that we see around our town. It was a touching moment when artists
arrived at the theatre for rehearsals and saw this. More than a few audible
gulps were heardl This was the most ambitious project we have ever delivered
a show and a film researched, devised and performed across all our

companies of artists. including those who had never met until performance
day. It was a scale of ambition merited by the extraordinary, forgotten stories
we uncovered.
Despite the sheer amount of work that went into this project- our year has also
been full of other accomplishments as well as a tentative venture into a whole
new area of work. It was a year where we challenged ourselves to be better as
an organization - innovating our inclusive governance processes. building on
inclusive employment and co-creating our new 5-year strategy alongside all
our artists and other stakeholders.
As ever, I send a huge vote of thanks to our funders and donors who have
supported us to deliver these outstanding projects and continue to partner with
us to deliver our vision of a world where every voice is heard. In particular, I
want to acknowledge and thank The Edward Gostling Foundation for choosing
us as a legacy partner earlier this year. We are thrilled to have their continued
support.
It has been an exciting time to jump aboard and I look foporfard to what the
coming years will hold.
Sally Davenport

Table ol Contents
Message from the Chair..
Arts and Eyession....
Through the Front Door- research, devising and production.......
South West Leaming disability theatre network ..........
Frome Festival....
Pigeon Productions ...
Vaccines fllms- your choice:.
Supported Internship film: ....
other Pigeon projects: ...
An all rovnd Hullaballoo- Green and Healthy Frome ..
OST & Me....
Self-Advocacy and Camerados,.
Hugo & Co....
Where are we now? ..
What next? .......
Directors and Trustees..
structure, Govemance and Management.....
Financial Review ....
Reserves Pollcy and Risk Management ..
Transactlons and Financial Position ...
Trustees, responsibilities in relation to financial statements .
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Arts and Expression
Creative arts and expression are the 'engine room, of what happens at OpenStoryTellers.
Each week. 4 companies of artists (about 30 people each week) and a Wellbeing company
{about 8 people) come together to create and to connect artistical￿ at our base in Frome.
Here are some words and pictures to give you a flavour of that work in 20242025.
Through the Front Door - research, devlslng and productlon
The purpose of this major National Lottery Heritage Fund funded project was to rolse
(Thvareness of people with leaming disabilities in the local area. to preserve the heritage of
storles and places belonging to that community, and promote inclusion and diversity. We
shared hidden histories and stories were created and told about people with o learning
disability by people with a leaming disability.
The creative phase was underpinned by a research board created by our small inclusive
research team that could be accessed by all everyone. It included tactile and visual
resources to help bring the fragments of history to life.
27 artists explored common themes of language. community and place. investigating the
relationship belween the past and the present and how understanding the past can help
us change attitudes today.
We displayed the information we had gathered following the timeline of leaming disability
histcry and then looked at the national level at la¥Ys and care acts that influenced people's

lives, and at a local level wt)at was hoppening in
our chosen areas of Bristol. Wells. Taunton and
Frome.
We looked at every aspect of the research from
r the places we found that people with learning
disabilities lived in. the clothes they wore, the food
they ate and the law5 which governed their live5
during the period.
The next phase was taking this research and
working inclusively and creatively with our groups
to devise o theatre performance with original score and a film. There were 30 devisers and
27 cast m8mbers.
Artists worked with our muslcal dlrector to create an origlnal
body of work inspired by the research. This has now been
recorded to provide a legacy of
their WO￿ together. Each artist now
has a cd wlth all the muslc created
ond devised by themselves for the
performonce and original artwork.
Each song title was taken from the
'record of entertainments, _ books
which we found in the Southwest
Heritage archives.
The artists worked with costumi6r
Dulcie Best on historically accurate clothing. which included
hand-crocheted collars lovlngty made by our community
volunteers, a nod to the collars wom by the woman in the
asylums who were allowed that small bit of personalisation into their uniform.
The artists also collaborated on props. stage sets, programmes and posters as activity and
rehearsals ramped up ahead of ourtheatre perfomance.
Performance and Sharlng
In January 2025 the results of everyone's hard WO￿ came together in a one night only
performance at the Frome Memorial Theatre for an audience of 305 people. 26 staff,
volunteers and supporters of OpenStoryTellers were working on the night in addition to
theatre staff to ensure. the wellbeing and access needs of our cast were met. The cast
included 27 people with learning disabilities who delivered a truly original and inspirational
performance.
"Entertaining. informative, powerful, creative. inspiring. ambitlOU5 and really impressive."
Audience feedbacL

The show was followed by a 'meet the cast, event and an exhibition of the research that
inspired the performance. We were also able to showcase some of our amazing project
partners at the event including Bath Spo University's 'We ore the People, project and the
wonderful work of the Mendip Cemetery Volunteers.
We Worked with Suited and Booted Originals {filmmaker51 to capture the parts of the live
show thot would be used in our film. We then shot additional material on location in the
buildings and places we had researched. This beautiful. unique p￿ce of art ts now available
for everyone to view and has been submitted to the Oska Bright film festival. Click on the
picture below to watch the film:
htt
vim
We also worked with local friend and filmmaker, Julian Hight. to document the behind-the-
scenes Fxocess of our research and creative phase of the project. This accesslble film Is an
important part of the digitaljoumal we have created tlyoughout the project which includes
podcasts. blogs, photos and film. Click on the picture below to watch the film:
htt
vimeo.com
1060
14
We have forged new and ongoing working relationships. throughout th5s project,
including:

Frome Museum
Bath Spa university
Mendip Hospital cemetery volunteers
Wells and Mendip Museum
Frome Memorial theatre
. all new partnerships which are already bringing richness and
new ideas. Special thanks to the team of volunteers at the
Memorial Theatre who responded with energy and creativity as
< artists grappled with the neNvness of stage lights and a less than
accessible old beautiful building, not to mention a surprfsingly
steep rake on the stage which tested the strength of wheelchair
brokesl The generosity of their time and their passion for making
our show work was a testament to their commitment to the
power of theatre made by and for the community.
Our local MP. Anna Sobine came to see the show and took the time to v￿lte to us. In her
letter she said:
"l am 50 glad I was able lo See the perfomiance, to flnd out about what you all thlnk
aboul the hhlory ol how we treat people wlth mental Hlness or learnlng dlsabllllles. It gav•
m• a lot lo thlnk about."
After Ihe show...
In early February we celebrated with each other. Each day. artists talked about the show
and shared their experiences through conversation, voice recordings. on-camera
interviews, artwork and movement. We were even sent an Oscar(l) from the custodians of
Mendip Hospital Cemetery. Every artist presented and received the Oscar naming and
valuing what they saw in each other.
Artsticolly, Through The Front Door elevated OpenStoryTellers to a new established
"basecamp" from which future WO￿ can be created at a variety of scales.

New understandings ond vocabulcri entered our wortd. Having had lived and vivid
experiences of chorus work. devising, ensemble, these practices have become even more
readily available in people's repertoires.
After a period of reflection (which would be picked up again in March) we continued to
create day to day work. Artists have been creating original work
individually and
collaboratively - which has seen fruition daily:
We have explored such themes from outer space to the longing for the forest from
the finding of fossils
An original devised piece on the subject of story Itself called Psamathe {a goddess of
stories invented by the group).
We play music together and continue to explore improvisation (with one artist
designing and leading two workshops on spontaneity).
On the 271h March Joe and Simon attended an event at Frome Tovm Hall by invltation
from Anna Sabine and hosted by her team. This was a round table meeting with other
local arts organisations and the Arts Council officer for the South West.
south.west Learnlng Dlsablllty Thealre Network
In March, Simon. Alex. Meghan and Corrie met 5 other southwest theatre I creative
organisations and artists at an event at the Watershed. It was convened by Blue Apple
(Winchester) on behalf of Arts Council England to explore whether working together more
would be a good idea. Other groups were:
Firebird IBristoll
Twocan Icheltenham)
Blue Apple (Winchesterl
Shallal {Cornwall)
Reach Inclusive Arts {Swindon)
It is very early days but it was clear immediatety that artists and performer5 are very keen to
meet up more often and share work with each other. Organisationally. we are wcx*ing out
the best way fopward and we have enthusiastically agreed to stay part of thls collaboration
whlle we all work that out.
Frome Festlval
We continued our new tradition of premiering a new devised
plece. performed at our base at RISE. This year we showed
The Story Snatchers and welcomed over 40 people to watch
these performances.
natcher
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Plgeon Productlons
Pigeon productions is the social enterprise wing of our organisation. We take on
commissions from extemal clients which in tum allow us to provide jobs for any artist who
comes to OpenStoryTellers. We started Pigeon productions to help raise money for
OpenStoryTellers, but over the years this has chonged. Pigeon productions is now an
important way we tackle social inequalities facing people with a learning disability. This has
clearest impact in the area of employment with 8 artists working as creative consultants, I
who chooses to volunteer as a creatNe consultant, and l freelance artist - Robin Meader.
But the topics we work on also address inequality in health, employment and other areas.
Here's a selection of our WOTk from this year.
Vacclnes fllms - your cholce: A commission from Somerset NHS for films to help people
decide about vaccines. Click on the picture to play one of the films:
Ccine
SuPp￿ted Internshlp fllm: Pigeon consultants worked with Devon Council to create a tllm
promotlng supported internships. Click on the picture to play the film:
Olher Plgeon projects:
Southampton Unlverslly. We ran consultancy sessions for the university on the topic of
Artificial Intelligence and its impact on easy read materials.
A21: We continue to support A21 by consulting and checking their easy read materials.
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Go Easy Read: Our partnership with Katy Brickly at Go Easy Read continued this year with a
range of projects. 2 of these projects required some particularly careful thought as the
topics covered serious safeguaTding issues. This raised some imp￿an1 elhical issues and o
work on separate projects with Bath Spa Uni helped us to navigate this. with the outcome
that each consultant hod from a wellbeing session run by Becky Abiyah, our extraordinary
wellbeing coordinator.
Hate and Male Crlme: Following Plgeon's films from last yecr. we have run 4 workshops using
the films to raise awareness and an5v￿r questions in colleges and gateway clubs. Frome
Police station and other leaming disability services.
Fiome Town Councl: We are supporting them with a small piece of work to help explain
their new engagement strategy. This was part of a lorger. really useful conversation where
the engagernent lead expressed real interest in working with us an engagement experts for
the town. We will keep developing this working relationship.
An all-round Hullaballoo- Green and Heallhy Frome
A 'Hullabaloo"_ a noise or fuss mode by people who are ongry or excited about
something.
Sometimes our Pigeon work allows for largei scale artistic projects acr055 OpenStoryTellers.
In collaboration with Green & Healthy Frome. we bought together four local creative
practitioners to work alongside our collective of talented artists with learning disabilities, to
explore how the changlng environment impacts on their world.
In November 2024. we took over the Black Swan Gallery in Frome for an exhibition telling
the story our community alongside the anxiety and anger evoked by waste and global
warming. Over 500 people visited the exhibition.
There were 5 parts to the project. each led by an extemal local artist.
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We Return lo Earth - Becky Abhaya with Elanl. Hanrkih, Flona. Andrew & Paula We shared
how being in nature makes us feel and explored the cycles of life: birth. life, aging.
decaying. death and again life. We created art at Heaven's Gate. Welshmlll River Walk
and in OpenStoryTellers overthe following months. using both plants and waste rubbish and
recording how all that we created slowly retumed to the earth.
We emphasised the Importance of our connection to nature. We offer a gentle reminder
of the impact that microplastics are having.
The Wool Influenceri - Jade Ogd•n with Peler. Sluart, Lucy, Megan. Blle, Jacob, Mark,
Lauren & Paul We looked at locally grown fibres and how we could use them for fashion.
We explored the issues around fast fashion and plastic based clothing and how we could
make something different and good for the planet. Wool fleece is playful and It Inspires
creativity because of its shape and the way it feels. We talked about the story of the
Emperor's New Clothes and thought about they could become 'influencers' in their
local community by making locally grown, biodegradable accessories.
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Joylul Feast- Mel Day wilh Charfotte. Sarah. Allce. Brandon. Dan. Clemma. Flona, Jacob,
Elle. Robln & Ilm
The making of Joyful Feast certainly made us happy. Food brings people together. it gives
us comfort when we are sad and weary. We show we care by making food. giving to
strangers and loved ones alike. While we made the food our joyful feast we shared our
happy food memories. everyone had a story. Some came out almost as verse, ready to
pass on to you.
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Journ•ys Through Tlme and Cllmate
Howard Vause wlth TIM, Clemma, Robln &
Charlotte We explored how the everyday can become extraordinary when seen through
the lens of nature, climate, and time. What might seem like a routine bus trip becomes
something far morHin exploration of how climate change will impoct future travel, and
how nature shapes their experience through the changing seasons. Stories were woven into
every ride, where the mundane is magical, where the joumey is more than just a destination
,Ilkl A I
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Theslory of a StoneTlvown In Ihe Rlver- OpenSl¢xytellers' creative facilltators and
arllsts: Kat. Dora, Kale, Dan, Hayley, Ellle. Stuart, Ruth, Robert, Willlam. M. A. C This piece is o
creative response to the river Frome,. o place that we often frequent. appreciating the flow
and the ripples created as we go. We explored our relationship with the river from blue skies
and whistling birds to deep below where the bubble5 burst. We are inviting you to listen and
see the water from a new perspective.
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OST&Me
The National Lottery Commun￿/ Fund is sUPPOrtlng us to take a deep dive into OUT ovm
practice and govemance to explore what it truly means to be a 'user-led' organisation
where everyone has a voice when not all of us use words to speak.
What we did:
Inclusive team and board away day
Created a new accessible feedback tool called a Thoughts board and held 4
feedback sessions at team meetings
New Artictes of 0￿0Cla110n embedding the vieNv5 of artists into Trustee decision
making
4 new Artist Advocate roles - they will be each company's fink person with a named
trustee - 4 meetings have already happened
New inclusive strategy (vision, mission, values and strategic ovtcomes)
The new strategy has been the subject of a creative audit led by Terrestrial CIC
New theory of change. impact indicators and measures
Inclusive employment resources shared with 3 national leamlng disability
organisations
Inclusive govemance leaming shared with 4 other leamlng dlsability arts
organisations
How we changed what we do:
Our 2 supported interns are now permanent positions
People with a leaming disability are now a core part of team meetings. away days
and staff messaging
We work across all of soMe￿t {the Ourself Advocacy project). expanding our
potential impact to the more than 30(KJ people who have a leorning disability.
We are a key partner with Somerset Council in r￿StablIShIng their partnership
boards
A fully inclusive creative sun4ey about how well our bullding works for people -
leading to new refurbishment plans and design
A new. updated website with a strong focus on active allyshlp
Trustees building relationships wtth artists and staff to support their decision making
and bringing us closer to a 'user-led' ideal.
How it has changed how we will work in the fvlure
New 5 year plan. visionary. c¢>FYoduced. evaluated and boldl
Framework for inclusive governance that embeds voices of OST leaming disabled
artists at every level of the organisation - a truly inclusive form of a 'user led,
organisation.
A board of trustees more embedded into day-t¢xlay busine55 and the lives and
voices of LD artists.
See our website and our leaming fcw fuller expression of our commitment to active allyship
and why that Is such a crucial port of being as 'user-led' as we can be.
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o • o x
..FxFIts.n¢t¥ Tkn5 P
The tearn strategy day highlighted impoct on inclusive govemance of having employees
with a leaming disability. Whilst employment will not be f￿ everyone, it Is another essential
Strand in ensuring that we elevate people's voices at all levels of decision making.
As this project nears its end, we found a truly unique and creative way to end exactly where
we begon
wlth the views of our artists. We partnered with local community arts
organisation, Terrestrial and they had a residency with us for 4 weeks. Here is an excerpl of
their report:
Terrestrial arh'sts spent time with Open Storytellers over the course of four weeks in Spring
2025. We each visited on a different day of the week so that befvieen us we could
colkjborate with all the cuffent regular Open Storyteller5 orhsts.
Our approach was rooted in being 'active listeners and obsen/ers'. The goal
was to discover and explore from within the groups of Open Storytellers
artists, rather thon sitting ou￿de the activities. So we didn't t￿ng any pre-
determined questions or provocations to the group - we simply joined in as
fellow artists with the day-to-day creative work.
Over the coutse of our time working with Open Storytellers, each Terrestrial
artist became involved in 5UPPOrting a distinct small creative project-
these emerged organically from conversations and explorations amongst
the groups.
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Still from Thw8doy group 8 film. which can be seen at OST
At several points during the residency. Terreshial artists gathered to reNect
on our experiences - and we were in regular communication with the Open
storytellers staff team about the best ways to support the groups.
We were fortunate that hvo public Open Storytellers events also took place
within this period." o screening of OST regular Robin Meader,
s latest professionally produced ortist film. and the premiere of 'Through the Front
Door, (the film version of osr s major theatre production from eartier this
year). Attending these events allowed us to consider the wider impact of
the organisation's wo￿.
Open Storytellers Artists evidently feel deeply connected to the organisation. Every
conversation we witnessed was threaded with references to previous projects, memories
of fellow artists past and present. experiences shared as a group.
While they ore united as Open st¢yYtelle￿ and sometimes come together
for specific projects - such as their recent large-scale theatre piece 'Through the Front
Door, _ a different collection of arhsts attends each day of the week. Some people have
been involved for many years and conh7bute g￿aty as artistlc elders.. others are relatively
new to OST.
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11
Baby Drcwns., (m autho ad￿tUr& is aviMld)le to listen to at Open Storyteller&
Within each group there are hugely varied arh.stic interests.. some people love noisy group
work - big dances, octing and singing - while others prefer gentler solitary tasks such as
research and crafts. There are also very different communicotion styles. physical needs
and sensitivities amongst the groups. We all noticed how readily the artist5 made space
for one another- listening carefully. adjusting their activitie5 to include anyone who
wonted to join.
Openstorytellers Staff are incredibly skilful ot combining bold creative provocations with
flexibility and care. fime and again through our time with OST. Teffestrial's arhsts marvelled
ot the myriad levels of communication at play in the room and the Lead Creative
Facilitators, ability to stay in the loop with oll of them. In any given moment, a staff
member might be addressing the group. giving space to an individuol who needs to
Interrupt, and simultaneously gesturing to a colleague. This allows for each artist's interests
and need5 to be met while the group rernain5 in a creative flow.
All this, and more in ther report. assures u5 that our new strategy and purpose reflects the
priorities of Ihe artists who come here - whether those artists use words to speak or not. By
approaching this flnal phose in a creative. norFlinear way, we have put out learning into
practice about how to approach ovrwhole community in on equal and engaging way.
Seff-Advocacy and Camerados:
The project's purpose is to research and reinvigorate self-advocacy in Somerset. Since July
2024 we have been exploring, nefv40rting and leaming about what is already happening.
where we have gaps and how it works in other parts of the country.
Somerset Community Foundation ￿fUnd d this project. Click on this link to find out more.
htt
vimeo.
7218096
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Ellie
Ben
openst0￿e1leYs
OpenStoryTeller8
two interns, Joe and aemm&'irL' .
We want to make sure people can speak up but we also want to make sure they are heard.
We have plans to work with the 'audiences' in Somerset too - eycially the statutory
bodies and providers.
So far we have mapped over 40 Somer5et orgonisations and are now heoding out on vtsits
to encourage groups and indNiduals to come together and speak up together.
Good mental health and young people with leaming disabilities: We olso had success with
a £1 0,000 grant from Frome Town Council. This grant is aimed towards supporting the mental
health of young people with a learning disability in Frome. Clemma supported Alex with our
presentalion to the communities, team at the council. Our proposal includes the
Camerados model of POF>UP community living rooms. You can find out more about the
Camerados approach by following this link and watching the wonderful short animation on
their homepage. htt
Ben. Joe and Ellie (and supported by Clemma) are driving both these projects forward.
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Hugo & Co
In 2023, a Frome family approached OpenStoryTeller5 to ask for help. They wanted to find
a place like OpenStoryTellers where their son could cary on with education when he left
school. We could not rind a place that would be right for him. We decided to test out
whether we could become an education and care provider. At the beginning of this year,
the boaid of trustees approved a pilot project to research and develop a brand-new area
of work for OpenSt(xyTellers.
With other families also coming to us and artlculating problems with further education and
support ser+/ices, we think there could be a better way of providing care and support and
further education. We think we could be the right people to do it.
Where are we now?
Hugo now has a personal budget for his education and funding for his care and sUPPOrt.
This is being managed like an individual seprfice fund so that there is transparency and
control over how the money is spent.
We are partnering with Beyond Limits In Plymovth to employ a team of 4, sp8cifically for
Hugo (support staff and team leader). Beyond Limits have huge expertise around CQC
registration and are supporting the development of our service - we would be lost without
thelr support and knowledge.
We have engaged 4 people to work as specialist tutors. All 4 have particular skills in areas
that Matter to Hugo (music. performance. movement. nature) and they have begun
teaching on a weekly basis in various community locations.
What nex17
We plan to set up a new company called The Allyship. It wlll be o trading arm for
OpenStoryTellers. It will need to be CQC registered - we have more research to do before
we know exactly what th8 new company will look like. Solicitors ore helping us wlth the
legal trading agreement belween OpenStoryTellers and The Altyship.
We wlll need to secure some social Investment funding to set up our new company. We
have learned that we need more infraslructure than we thought to do this property and
well for more people than Hugo.
For Hugo- we need to find more warm and welcoming places where hrs tutoring can
happen. Hugo teaches us lots every single day. It has been a lot of new stuff oll very
quickly for him. We need to give him time to get used to hts new reality.
Directors and Trustee5
The directors of the charitable company (Yhe charity") are its trustees for the PLxpose of
charity law and throughout this report are collectively referred to as the trustees. The
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trustees who served during the period and up to the date the accounts were approved
are as follows:
Sally Davenport (ioined June 201h 2024, elected chalr from January l $1 2025)
Benjamin Banks ITreasurer)
Elanor Steel (Safeguarding lead)
Emma Mee tioined January 27th 2025)
Sarah Talbot-williams (Chair- stepped down 31$1 Dec 2025)
Jane Flood (stepped down - 18th Feb 20251
Claire Edgar {stepped down - 22nd Oct 2024)
Jackie Lucaslstepped down- l Oth Feb 2025)
Four trustees stepped down this year. Iwo new trustees were appointed.
The registered office Is RISE, Whittox Lane, Frome BAI 138Y.
The bankers are HSBC plc. 24 Market Place, Frome BAI I I AJ
The Independent Examiner is Tim Green
The patrons are Nick Hennessey, Storyleller and Taffy Thomas MBE.
The full name of the Charfty is Openstorytellers Limited. Charity number 1130148, Company
number 0682997
Struclure, Governance and Management
The Charlty was Inc(xporated on the 23rd September 2009 as a Company Limited by
Guarantee. It is govemed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association. The Charity
registered with the Charity Commission on 12th June 2CKTr.
The Directors of the charitable company ("the charity") are Its Irustees for the purpose of
charity law and throughout ths report are collectively referred to as the trustees. The
Board meets four times a year. The ttrffee longest serving twstees retire each year but are
subj8Ct to reolection.
The Board of Trustees 15 responsible for deternining the overall policy direction of the
charity, for fixing and reviewlng its annual budget. and for approving annual accounts.
The Charity Director is responsible for day-to-day management in occordance with
determined policies.
Flnanclal Revlew
The Trustees are pleased to present they report together with the financial statements of
the charity for the year ending 31 sl March 2025. Reference and administrative details set
out on pages 23 & 24 form part of this report. For financial statements comply with current
statutory requirements. the Memorandum and Article5 of Association and the Statement
of Recommended Practice - Accounting arKI Reporting by Charities.
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Reserves Pollcy and Rlsk Management
The charity's reserves policy aims to maintain a level of free reserves that will provide a
buffer against unexpected events. bridge gaps in funding and will enable the charity to
respond to new opportunities. It also covers our key fiabifities should the charity no longer
be able to continue.
The reserve policy hos been reviewed and in response to the current unpredictable
economic. political and fundraising climate. the trustees have agreed a free reserve5
target of £72,223 which is equivalent to six months, core operating expenditure.
At the end of the reporting period, the charity held £149,184 in total funds, of which
£34.447 was restricted, £54,737 was unrestricted. and £60.[￿ was designated as an
endowm8nt. After accounting for these. the charivs free reserves were £50.205. The
Trustees are confident that the long-term financial plans generate sufficient free reserves
to satisfy its reserves policy over the coming 12 months and beyond.
The Trustees have examined and addressed the financial risks to vthich the Charfty Is
exposed and in association with its insurers, has mitigated those risks to the best of its
ability.
Transacllons and Flnanclal Posltlon
During the year the Charity incurred total expendlture of £341,060 of which £307,237 was
directly charitable.
Over the year the Charity received income of £406,762 leading to an overall surplus of
£65.702. The Balance sheet shows total reserves on 31 sl March 2024 of £149,184.
Trustees, re5ponslbllllles In relallon to flnanclal statements
Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year
that give a true and fair view of the Company's stote of affairs at the end of the financial
year and of its income and expenditure for that year. In preparing those financial
stotem8nts the Trustees are required to:
Select suitable accounting policies and then apply these consistently
Make Judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
state whether applicable accounting standards and Statements of recommended
practice have been followed subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the
financial statements.
Prepare the financial statements on a going concem basis unless it is inappropriate to
presume that the Chaiity will continue in business
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records whlch disclose with
reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charitable ComF)any ond
24

to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act
2006.
They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charitoble company and
hence f(y taking reasonable steps for the ￿eventiOn ond detection of fraud and other
Irregularftles.
S*•W
?AKJE tsfpo(2T
25

OPENSTORYTELLERS LTD
INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORTTO THE TRUSTEES
I report on the accounts of the company for the 12 months ended 31° March 2025 which are set out on
pages 27 to 32
RESPEcfivE REPONSIBIUTIES OF TRUSTEES AND EXAMINER
The trustee5 (who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of company law) are responsible
for the preparatlon of the accounts. The trustees conslder that an audit is not required for this year under
sectlon 144 of the Charitles Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examlnation Is needed.
Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to an audit under company law and is eligible for
Independent examlnation, it is my responsibility to;
Examine the accounts under Section 145 of the 2011 Act
To follow the procedures laid down in the general dlrectlons gNen by the Charlty Commlssion
under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act. and
To state whether particular matters have come to my attention
BASIS OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
My examlnatlon was carried out in accordance with the general directions given by the Charity
CommlssSon. An examinatlon Sncludes a review of the accountin8 records kept by the charlty and
comparison of the accounts presented wlth those records. It also includes a conslderation of any unusual
issues or dlsclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concernin8 any such
matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evldence that would be requlred in an audit
and consequently no oplnion Is glven as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair viev/ and the
report Is limlted to those matters set out In the statement below.
INDEPENDEKf EXAMINER'S STATEMENT
In connectlon with my examinatlon, no matter has come to my attentlon which gives me ￿asOnable cause
to belleve thaL In any material respect, the requirements
To keep accountlng records In accordan￿ wfth section 386 of the Companies Art 2CK)6; and
To Prepa￿ accounts whlch accord with the accountin8 records, comply with the accounting
requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2(XJ6 and with the methods and principles of the
Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charlties have not been met.
No other matter ha5 come to my attentlon In accordance wlth my examination to whlch, In my oplnlon,
attentlon should be drawn In orderto enable a proper understsnding of the accounts to be reached.
Timothy Green FCMA
Date: 16th July 2025
26
10

tl)nthns & Lewle•
Actlt4ltl88
Othw TradiTrJ
Invegtmrts
Othw IrK(m
2&3
61.824
104.247
124.W
278.813
3.341
e8,088
114.912
174.388
4311
I￿071
4C6.7O2
ÉXPEl￿TuRE (¥¢
RALrylng Fundi
20,196
200,576
617
1se,442
148.795
307.23T
TOT￿ ExpeNCITURE
111.514)
17.278
25.135
T I1)vE￿IKr111 FWIDJ
17,278
.702
25,136
•e.311
17,171
68,347
J4,447
140.114
JI Irom
27

FIXED ASSETS
Tangible Assets
11
6.275
Lkbto
Co8h 81 bwtk ond In hand
12
26.112
135.839
16,289
95.842
161,gS1
112.131
CREUTORB
ArTr)unt8 faling duo y••r
13
17.299
34.924
NET CiMIREpif ASSErs
144,652
77,207
NET A8SEr8
149.184
83.482
Unre6lTlcl8d lund8
R•8trS¢tad lundo
End(MThnt furKIs
54,737
34,447
80,(￿0
86,311
17.171
TOTAL FUND3
149,184
83,482
Tho qccountl hav• b••n w•w•d kn •c¢crfd•nc• ￿th th• •p•cld of P•t 15 of tl* A¢t 2006
relBllrvJ to Wrpanth. ond ¥Alh tha Fmn¢bal R8r#>lkng Standwd 102
Th• ¢ory>wy hal tsk•n a(fvanlag• ol th• frL¥n aiKlIt ￿d•r SKtkn 477 d th• Ctyry>•nkn Act 2CI)6 12
Ihs ended 31st M•r¢h 2025
Tho have r¥)t reQ￿rea the c(ry8ny to ot*¥kn 8n a(wJlt lry the 12 rrK¥*l* en￿1 31st 2024 In 8cccwd8ne8
%%lth 476 of the Curpwi05 Act 20(￿.
Th8 Tw$tw 8ckncMledg0 Ihelr resp(ThIL￿￿tlQs far:
8Ufkng thal lh8 coThp•ny ke•p acco￿lI￿j T*Aih Sactlon 3&3 387 of the Cryonl88 kt
2006: ond
w)Èrhw kcount• ￿lch a true aNI fatr vlthv ol t1￿ 8iat• of thD c(ryony's affatrs al tho erKi of tho flnanclal
ye8r and ol it8 iWF4u$ ty dofKII lor th• y••r kn accordanc• tAllh th• r•wlr•n)Int of 8•¢llon 394 and 395, orKI thl¢h
alherWAo th• rowtr•n*rt• Ciffiywl•s Act 2￿8 r•lallrvJ lo •c¢rMil8. •0 for a• •ppll¢abl• lo the
¢mwny.
Tft*tee
The ndaB on p8ges 29 to 32 fom wi of tr*8fr a¢¢(xmt8
28

A¢t 2C
OdThJ co￿•rn
Chwlty
Opr411ry L••b
Th• co•t$ ol I•1￿ arn ctr•9•J u ltr•
T•Y4ty• Flx•d A•••l•
&357
Gr•nl•
R••trkt•d
*J*ly•l•
from CtrArll•il• A￿1￿1￿1•
YJ2S
CW S•rvk••
119.319
YB.1VJ
1fj.2aS
119.W4
37.fQl
116,764
I9,￿5
Cwrrtwnly
12,211
21.708
12.217
21.7e8
ZJ.413
&102
12,558
47.
47.e49
1214
49
14
Olh•r
12
120
M•I¢h•ThJ￿o lol
248
433
29

tliv•¢t
Tthl
Tol•l
2024
1X.032
41.
2&447
146.479
12a.
31081
1127
&435
16.
21.919
1&457
16.484
115.785
L*b
*10.124
1Z7
16.046
1019
10.4
I￿7
.447
5.1
2,127
22,956
& Co
G>Mwnlly +
2.031
1.574
671
1.1
187
2.679
St•ff Iw• •pvd
y•w I￿¢•• ￿kn￿•12Q24.
SKurtty
11 T•vJlA• Ax•J A•••l•
ql I ￿21
A• •t 31$1 2025
A• •11 lknch 2tr24
Ch￿0 Iht
Al al 31•1 klwch 2016
12,232
12232
975
•t V4u•
A• 411 X24
A8 •131￿ 2028
12
10
2.9YJ
FffjWl8 8 A¢md Iroyrn
30

13 l¥•¢ltty*
TThd• (¥•¢l¢
1.4n
PAYE
Olh•r c￿1¢
11.eso
31.eei
311
I￿.11[•1
191x5
tw S•rvle•* . Al
8,713
37.962
1.701
47.619
e<K*¢tyJb4 . tr¢>h C*te T￿1
BcokC￿bs . L•wd Ljlly Stoth• ThAI
c￿￿￿nIY P*lfvJr*il L&*lwy c4rn￿ fvrxl fr¥ Al
C4￿nIY SCS
1.315
1.315
PlgwTh Pr¢*ttI￿M. N•llon•l Lcllvy
PIDd￿t￿m . B•loy
1410
Z4fj0
12
blacxy. Sl7
14.104
8.752
C4y•. Frryrn
Gy•. Lcll•ry Fw
Gy•.
10.¢
T(tsl IIMtri¢i•d Fw¥
Tolal Fw
P*¢l. A r8%oarch rrfr4KI •xptstrq t￿ hwAl* h*l4Y•• cl ¥Ah I1￿
Pthldubs . Sfmsorf St￿1￿1￿￿ lor F￿FIl **h arxl
OJ•. 8wF¢rtlr¥J t1* ef0• d*#y
Plx•d
Ywobl• A•••¢•
1144
112
28,112
16,
Cwf•rt U•illll1••
Cr•dltcds
17.2*
.447
144,ffi2
31

15
U•t41lly
¢￿1￿1• an &xce•*w £1 lowl¥ •s¥dS d tl* cwy h O* ev•* ol A* •1 th• 3191 2tr25 IK•rn Y*w• 15
32